Uh! We never got turned over because we played our best 11, many who have now gone to l'pool! Those names you mentioned all played at Anfield, so I get your point, but definitely aren't as positive. I believe we will loose just hope we give a good account of ourselves and don't loose by too much.
You can't deny, though, that it would have been nice to start this new era by building on the previous few years' hard work, being able to attract better players, and improve the squad in the wake of our sales. It feels like we are currently starting a new era we could have started after having finished 17th last season; and in that sense, this is a big missed opportunity. Players should be jumping at the chance to come to us under Ron, and our previous season's highly visible work. But we are instead seen as a risk, and (conjecture alert) possibly the reason why some (not all - I am aware of well-documented other reasons for some players) targets are waiting until closer to the deadline before finalising any move. From the inevitable press reaction waiting for any slips to the own brand kit and our current transfer dealings (we are not generally - nor do I believe we should be - in this era a team who takes other team's unwanted players, preferring to control our own transfer demands), this regime's (including Cortese) shortcomings are clear for all to see. In regard to the kit, we are almost wearing our shortcomings on our sleeves (or near enough). I am prepared to accept we need to consolidate this season, and transfers are about putting together a squad to compete rather than improve on eighth place this season. I'm not even that bothered that transfers haven't happened yet - as I know they will do. I simply have one gripe at this point: and that is that we have messed up a massive opportunity to progress and build from a high point. And yes, I know we almost went out of business five years ago. And yes, I will change my point of view if we get the targets we are supposedly after.
I'm a competitive person when it comes to football results - I want results that hit hard from the gut. Retribution, revenge, schadenfreude, and karma are feelings I like to sate on a Saturday or Sunday. I like beating Spurs (not delivered so far), for example. Sometimes I wish players and managers felt the same, as well as our Board, who I wish would refuse to ever sell to Spurs again purely out of spite.
I don't think me nor anyone is denying it would have been nice to start this new era by building on the previous few years' hard work. I honestly am not too sure what your point is here, other than you want us to build on a season where we finished 8th. So much has changed at the club, so many people have gone. I, nor anyone else has said we should build a squad to compete rather than improve... I'd love us to improve. The point for me is that so many things have changed that it is like a new era. Most of those changes have really been out of the club's control; there has been a domino effect and possibly the only thing to have prevented that is not having Cortese leave, but he chose to when the owner wanted more of a spreading of the control. I think it is a little pointless to start harking back over that old ground... NC goes, why? MP goes; the players leave... etc. We've been through that. Just as a matter of interest though, where do you draw the line on not wanting players other clubs don't want... I'd take Hernandez from United in a heart beat.
We all do. But unless you support a top 4 club, such results are rare. That makes them all the sweeter when they come, but I've learnt never to expect too much. Of course, I'd love it if we stuffed Liverpool at Anfield. Bloody love it.
Osvaldo signed shipped out any news? Who be listing to the Celtic game?*(Live on BBC Radio Scotland 810MW/DAB)
I don't understand this crazy obsession with the Celtic game. I know it improves our chances of signing a player or two but listening in on the radio? Really? What are you going to do if the Polish team score, run into the street helicoptering with your t-shirt over your head?
There's been a fair bit of give or take [whichever word is responsible for the extra wait] since. I make it nearly two and a half times as long, and counting. This waiting game is eating into the players settling/bedding-in period quite significantly now. The strategy phrase of... Clubs need to complete their signings early, could be finished by two endings. 1] ...from Southampton. 2] ...except Southampton [who'll wait until the last moment]. It was ever thus.
Taïder signed his paperwork yesterday but for whatever reason, Osvaldo did not. There's footage of him arriving this afternoon to sign his paperwork, though.
